Things we learned at the NCTM Regional Conference in Minneapolis

My colleague Chris Larson and I took 10 pre-service math teachers to the NCTM Regional conference in Minneapolis.  I am using the collective term We because I am referring to the people in our group or people we interacted with at the conference.

We learned:

• Math is a Verb.  In most Native languages, there isn’t “one word to describe mathematics—rather they name it when they use it to count, build, cook, hunt, or fish.” Fabian Jenks
• Running into people you know at a large conference is always great.  The best part is catching up with old friends.
• Making connections with new people at the conference is awesome.  Then next time you see them at a conference, they will be an old friend.
• Math Trauma is real and frequently caused by misinformed parents and teachers. We all need to work collectively to stop it!
• We need to stop using the phrases, “You’ll need it for high school.” or “You’ll need it for college.”
• Desmos has created some awesome activities and has super awesome math people developing more.
• When you tell people that you brought 10 pre-service math teachers to a conference, they get super excited!
• You can use the internet to help students make connections with people with similar interests around the world.
• “We teach the way we teach because it is the way we have always taught.” Matt Larson, NCTM President-Elect.  We all need to rethink our teaching and our teaching practices to help students develop deep understanding of mathematics.
• Everyone is looking for new assessment ideas—the two assessment sessions that I attended were both very full.  It makes me excited about the 1-credit assessment class that Chris and I have created and look forward to making positive changes this coming semester.
• Calculus I faculty across the country are somehow (unintentionally) hurting students confidence in their mathematical ability, which is affecting students taking Calculus II.  This happens more frequently for female students.
• You never know when you might stumble upon an interesting Senior Research project on Math and Music or 3-D Sudoku.
• If you are going to advertise free food to college students over 6 feet, they are going to eat a lot of it!
• If there is any chance that you are going to be within 5 feet of Steph Curry, you need to have something for him to sign.
• Hanging out at a bus stop in Minneapolis late at night will be interesting, eventful, and maybe even scary.
• You never know when you are going to use the skills you learned in the Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries class.
• You can fit 11 people with all of their luggage and about 50 pounds of math textbooks into a Chevy Traverse and a Dodge Caravan with a missing seat.
• Spending lots of time with the same people makes you a family—and sometimes you need a break from your family members.

All 10 of the SDState pre-service teachers that went.

I know that the trip was memorable for everyone. I think the students learned some great things and they certainly did a great job of representing South Dakota State University!